Mini digger or avant type loader

[Matthew Storrs]

Yes  size and probably more likely weight would be an issue. They weigh best part of 10 ton on relatively small front wheels, so best kept to hard ground to avoid mess and ruts. I reckon they’d make a great yard machine though. Proper good at loader work and pushing into stuff again because of the weight behind them.

 

i always keep a loose eye on the market- I reckon if a 4cx or equivalent with equal wheels came up locally I’d take a good look at it- that’s for my stonewalling work I do- still grab work.

 

 

[Ian C]

If we are talking about digging with a bucket on the front I would avoid the smaller Mulitone/Avant

 

Went to a demo of the Multione and it's very versatile and nimble but did not have a lot of push IMO. Probably not a problem if scrapping sand or wood chip of a concrete yard but digging a hole in the ground would of been hard going IMO. Our compact tractor that cost about half the price has a lot more push. I should add it was a short demo and only had forks on the front. Picking up a large lump of wood had all wheels spinning to get the forks underneath it. Once in it picked it up OK and had plenty of lifting power. Not getting one myself as it was no tractor replacement.

 

21K for something covered in fragile glass fibre panels that will get broken as soon as they see a log or stone seemed daft. 

The Multione isn’t glass fibre panels there plastic and v brittle plastic at that! Oh and very expensive brittle plastic I may add !!!

[joeblacky]

I seriously looked into a multione, just couldn't justify the cost when a tractor can be had for so much cheaper, plus you can get used implements for much less. No they aren't as versatile, but for me at least the cost saving outweighed that. Hell I could get a nice little digger and a good tractor and still have change left from a decent sized MO purchase

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

All fair points! Scale/size/weight were strong “pull” factors for me towards MO. 2,6 - 3t mini digger, you’re going to be flying on the seat of yr pants every time you tow behind a pick-up. Not such a problem if you’ve got heavier transport perhaps?

[Matthew Storrs]

There is a lot to be said for sticking with conventional tractor or compact if space is limiting.

 

every now and again I get myself all excited about getting one of these ‘specialist’ machines- alpine tractor, avant or whatever but by the time I have bought it, got all the scaled down attachments and then factored in having to tow it about with a truck and trailer I’m better of with a smallish 4x4 standard tractor that can get itself to the job with attachments leaving truck freed up for other things. Micro machines (nice as they are)are really only worth having if you are on micro sites a lot.

 

 

 

[woody paul]

Saw the JCB 1CXT at Plantwox 3 years ago what a quick little machine. Saw a 2cx for sale a couple of years ago with a timber grab on front and back actor was chopped short and had a set of hydra tongs on the end.

[woody paul]

4 minutes ago, Matthew Storrs said:

There is a lot to be said for sticking with conventional tractor or compact if space is limiting.

 

every now and again I get myself all excited about getting one of these ‘specialist’ machines- alpine tractor, avant or whatever but by the time I have bought it, got all the scaled down attachments and then factored in having to tow it about with a truck and trailer I’m better of with a smallish 4x4 standard tractor that can get itself to the job with attachments leaving truck freed up for other things. Micro machines (nice as they are)are really only worth having if you are on micro sites a lot.

 

 

 

If you travel a bit for work micro loader as you call them have there uses stick them on trailer and off you go. Travelling to a job the other morning with Giant loader on trailer saw 2 avants and 1 bobcat all on trailers behind truck, it horses for courses if you got the work take the leap and you  will think why didn't i do it before.

[Matthew Storrs]

Did you see the price of the 1cxt? I’m fairly sure they are well north of £40k

[woody paul]

2 minutes ago, Matthew Storrs said:

Did you see the price of the 1cxt? I’m fairly sure they are well north of £40k

Probably why i have not seen one again working any where.

[Matthew Storrs]

2 minutes ago, woody paul said:

If you travel a bit for work micro loader as you call them have there uses stick them on trailer and off you go. Travelling to a job the other morning with Giant loader on trailer saw 2 avants and 1 bobcat all on trailers behind truck, it horses for courses if you got the work take the leap and you  will think why didn't i do it before.

It’s a fair point- I know that tractors and backhoes have drawbacks in terms of speed- but just playing devils advocate here as recently I have been giving this a bit  of thought, a loaded truck and trailer isn’t exactly quick either, on top of this you have to load it all up at the yard, unload it at site, risk not getting truck and trailer across a wet field then find somewhere to put truck, plus all over again at the end of the day. A tractor whilst slower on the road will probably make up the time through saving the faffing around with unloading etc. 

Its always that thing of trying to find a machine that has as many uses as possible, particularly in this game as jobs and sites vary so much from day to day